Gavin Chesterfield’s final match in charge of Barry Town saw the club take all three points and extend their lead at the top of the JD Cymru South.

Following a pre-match celebration of Gav’s time at the club, the home side took the lead almost before the fans had quietened, Josh Graham smashing through the visitors’ defence to fire home within the box, with an assist from Kayne McLaggon.

When Luke Cooper headed in from a corner at the back post to make it 2-0 after 11 minutes, it looked as if Barry were going to romp to victory, but Trefelin had other ideas, scoring almost immediately through Joseph Jones to make it 2-1.

From then on, it became a tense match, with both defences performing well to stop the forwards from taking advantage, and no further goals coming.

In the second half, Barry hit the top of the post with a long range cross-shot from the right wing, while Trefelin clearly felt aggrieved by having a penalty shout refused with around twenty minutes remaining.

The day was all about saying goodbye to Gav. Fortunately, the team were able to secure the win and ensure the continuation of an unbroken Cymru South winning record for three months since early August.

On a first ever visit to Swansea University, Barry never looked in danger of dropping points, staying top of the Cymru South and keeping a clean sheet.

The visitors took a seventh minute lead, with Warman crossing from the right, Cotterill controlling the ball in the middle and Kayne McLaggon firing home.

Barry doubled their advantage after 22 minutes, Warman again crossing from the right, and McLaggon ghosting past the defence to score a tap-in.

McLaggon had a first half penalty saved by the Swansea Uni keeper, but scored his hat-trick from the spot midway through the second half after Barry were awarded a second spot-kick.

Mike Lewis was generally untroubled in the Barry goal, keeping a clean sheet as Barry finished a second successive matchday on top of the Cymru South table.

Barry went top of the JD Cymru South after taking a commanding three goal lead in the first half at Jenner Park.

Town took the lead in the 26th minute after Kayne McLaggon released Liam Warman on the Barry right and he fired low past the Llanelli keeper.

Barry made it 2-0 after 35 minutes. Josh Graham’s low cross from the left was met by Kayne McLaggon, whose shot from just inside the box eluded the keeper.

McLaggon made it 3-0 just before the break, scoring from the spot when Barry were awarded a penalty for a foul on Chris Hugh.

Barry found themselves down to ten men just before the hour mark when Curtis McDonald was shown a red card for a dangerous challenge, but despite the Reds pulling a goal back through Josef Hopkins in the 75th minute, the home side held on to go top of the league.

Barry made their way to the semi-final of the WBS League Cup after a penalty shoot out against Llanelli.

Torrential rain at Stebonheath Park affected the match, which ended in a goal-less draw after ninety minutes. The home side had gone seven matches without conceding and shut-out the free-scoring Barry forward line.

For much of the game, Llanelli looked more likely to score, and spent the final minutes camped around the Barry box.

In the opening penalties, Barry scored their first three spot-kicks through Kayne McLaggon, Liam Warman and Evan Press, while Mike Lewis saved from former Barry player, Louis Gerrard, and another Llanelli effort hit the bar.

Llanelli then scored twice, while Gavin Beddard’s effort was saved.

Going into the final spot kicks, Troy Greening’s effort looked to have been saved by the Reds’ keeper, who got a hand to it, but momentum took it over the line to give Barry a 4-2 win.

As Welsh Cup second round seeds, Barry travelled to South Wales Alliance Premier side, Aber Valley, near Caerphilly.

Barry started brightly, and twice had the ball in the back of the net through Drew Fahiya, but ruled out through offside.

Sam Johnson scored for Barry in the 18th minute, and Barry took a 2-0 lead into the half-time break when Jordan Cotterill scored in the 44th minute.

Set up by Sam Johnson, Kayne McLaggon secured the victory by making it 3-0 in the 49th minute.

In the end, pressure from the home side earned a consolation goal from the penalty spot, Scott Armitage giving the 900-strong crowd something to cheer.

However, it was Barry who were comfortably through to the third round of the Welsh Cup, avoiding defeat away from home against the tier four opposition.

Two late goals gave Barry the victory over visiting Taff’s Well, with Kayne McLaggon scoring from chances created by substitute Drew Fahiya.

The visitors had taken an early lead through Josh Allen after only three minutes, and Barry looked as if they would struggle to break down a defence who had lost just one of their ten matches so far this season.

With the Wellmen dominating in defence, it took a long shot from Aiden Lewis in the 65th minute to bring the home side level, Lewis getting his first goal for the club.

Time was ticking away, but, in the 90th minute, Fahiya beat his man on the right and crossed for McLaggon to score what seemed to be the winner.

With Well still spinning from conceding, there was a near repeat two minutes later, Fahiya again setting up McLaggon to make it 3-1.

JD Cymru South
Saturday, 24th September 2022. 4:30pm
Barry Town 5 Goytre United 0

A Kayne McLaggon hat-trick saw Barry comfortably take three points against the Port Talbot side, who Barry last met on promotion day in 2017.

Barry took a 20th minute lead when Josh Graham slotted the ball into the path of Kayne McLaggon. Jordan Cotterill scored the second five minutes later, with an individual goal that left the keeper
standing.

It was 3-0 at the break when Chris Hugh’s corner was headed in by Luke Cooper, one of the goalscorers in that 2017 promotion win.

In the second half, Cotterill turned provider for McLaggon’s second goal, while his hat-trick was confirmed from the penalty spot, when a penalty was given against the visitors for handball in the box.

The goals make McLaggon the top scorer in the current Barry squad, while Mike Lewis kept a clean sheet at the other end.

Saturday 3rd September 2022
Welsh Blood Service League Cup (Southern) Round One
Barry Town United 6 Cwmbran Celtic 2

Barry eased their way into the second round of the League Cup, taking a two goal lead within the first six minutes of the match against Cwmbran Celtic.

Kayne McLaggon scored the opener for Barry after three minutes, with Rhys Davies doubling the lead three minutes later.

However, the visitors were level by half-time, with Andrew Hewitt scoring after half an hour, and Thomas Meechan making it two apiece.

Barry drew clear against ten minutes into the second half when Drew Fahiya scored, and then Merv Bennett scored his first senior goal for the club, just before the hour mark.

In the last ten minutes, Drew Fahiya scored his second of the game, and Jordan Cotterill added his name to the scoresheet to make it 6-2 to Barry.

An early goal from Liam Warman earned Barry all three points at Richmond Park, with the visitors continuing their excellent away form in Carmarthen.

Callum Sainty burst through the Carmarthen midfield, feeding Warman on the right. His well-struck shot was too hot for the ‘keeper to hold, giving Barry a 4th minute lead.

Both Kayne McLaggon and Aiden Lewis saw chances flash by the Carmarthen goal, but it remained 1-0 at the break.

The home side pushed forward in the second half, in search of an equaliser, but Barry’s defence was strong, Mike Lewis securing the first clean sheet of the competitive season.

Carmarthen ended the game with ten men when Tom Dyson was shown an injury time red card after a mis-timed challenge on Mikey George, and Barry holding out for the three points.

Ian Johnson